A good ice cream is worth going the distance for. We prefer natural, traditionally made, quality types and we have created a selection of the best Budapest has to offer. Enjoy rose-petal shaped inventions at Gelarto Rosa, superfood variations at popular Fragola, lactose- and sugar-free options, or taste extravagant dill-cucumber yoghurt, salty caramel or matcha. Fans of classic flavours will also find the perfect summer companions, such as vanilla, chocolate, pistachio and lemon.

Erdős és fiai

Photo: Norbert Hartyányi / We Love Budapest

Exquisite ice-cream creations await everyone who goes the distance and visits Erdős és fiaiconfectionery by Kelenföld station on metro line 4. You’ll definitely not stop at two scoops here: they offer amazing fruity flavours and smooth, creamy varieties, and if you find it hard to decide which one to choose, they can get you a sample of each. They also serve lactose- and sugar-free options.

Damniczki Budapest

Photo: Zsuzsi Forgács / We Love Budapest

The bold creations at Damniczki Budapest on Hercegprímás utca in downtown District V never cease to amaze. They make it a priority to offer cakes, coffee and ice cream with the highest quality ingredients. They serve unconventional and exciting flavour combos, and it pays off: people simply love it. Their unique dill-yoghurt cucumber or pumpkin seed are popular even with the little ones. The confectionery also has a terrace where you can take your time enjoying their amazing frosty specialities.

Cioccolatte

Photo: Norbert Hartyányi / We Love Budapest

One of the favourite ice-cream shops in Újlipótváros, District XIII, is a tiny place with an exquisite selection. It usually attracts a lot of people living or working in the neighbourhood, on weekdays and on Saturdays, too. They use traditional Italian technology, with dominantly Italian ingredients, and offer unique flavours and classics.

Tip: mango, Bronte pistachio, coffee, lemon

Prices: 330 forints/measure

1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 7.

Tue-Sat noon-8pm, Sun noon-6pm

Gelarto Rosa

Photo: Tamás Kőrösi / We Love Budapest

The rose-shaped creations at Gelarto Rosa are a double whammy: they please the eye and taste amazing. It’s exciting to watch how they portion out delicious ice cream in two or more flavours – and colours – into perfect petal-shaped forms. Don’t be discouraged by the long queue in front of the place, you’ll get served pretty fast.

Tip: peanut, mango, sorrel-green apple, strawberry-elderflower sorbet

Prices: 2 flavours for 700 forints, 3 flavours for 800 forints

1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 3.

Daily 10am-10pm

Artigiana Gelati

Photo: Norbert Hartyányi / We Love Budapest

Family-owned Artigiana Gelati on Csaba utca near Széll Kálmán tér offers one of the best ice creams on the Buda side. They have plenty of experience making quality Italian frosty treats, having been in operation for 28 years. Classics and unconventional variations, lactose- and sugar-free options also feature. It’s perfect to eat on the go, walking through lovely Városmajor nearby.

Tip: Sacher, forest fruit-yoghurt

Prices: 400 forints/measure

1122 Budapest, Csaba utca 8.

Mar-Sept Tue-Sun 11am-7pm, Oct-Dec 15: Thur-Sun 11am-6.30pm

Fragola

Photo: Péter Kálló / We Love Budapest

A confectionery that offers the same, top-quality ice-cream at all its venues. This popular chain is a real trend-setter, introducing new and sometimes surprising and bold combinations every year. They also serve variations with superfood, lactose- and sugar-free options, and classics, too. You’ll find more than ten Fragola outlets around town.

Nándori

Photo: Tamás Kőrösi / We Love Budapest

NándoriConfectionery on bustling Ráday utca is popular because of its amazing selection of cakes and sweets, but in summer it’s all about the frosty treats here, too. They experiment with new flavours but also offer classics: you’ll find traditional, creamy creations and fresh, cool, fruity varieties. They have a lovely terrace where you can enjoy your ice cream in a cup, too.

Tip: watermelon, peanut, butterbeer 3.0, vanilla, chocolate

Prices: 280 forints/measure

1092 Budapest, Ráday utca 53.

Mon-Sat 7.30am-7pm, Thur 7.30am-8pm

I love Gelato

Photo: Norbert Hartyányi / We Love Budapest

I Love Gelato on Mester utca welcomes ice-cream aficionados with 35 flavours, fruity and creamy variations that you can ask for in a cone or a little cup. Forget your diet as soon as you enter, because you simply won’t be able to resist these delicious treats, and you’ll immediately feel the urge to try the most special – and unusual – flavours. Ingredients come from quality sources, and service is nice and professional.

Dolce Intervallo

Photo: Norbert Hartyányi / We Love Budapest

Dolce Intervallo is very Italian and very nostalgic, offering different flavours every day. Unsuspecting tourists strolling down Andrássy út may not know that amazing frosty delicacies are just a step away, at Alberto’s shop in Szív utca. Real fans or regulars can ask for a loyalty card, and you should definitely check their Facebook page from time to time, because they share daily specials there.

Tip: tiramisu, salty peanut, ginger-lemon, yoghurt, elderflower-lemon

Prices: 220 forints/measure

1063 Budapest, Szív utca 26.

Mon-Fri noon-8pm, Sun noon-8pm, closed Sat

Hisztéria Cremeria

Photo: Hisztéria Cremeria

At Hisztéria Cremeria on prominent Andrássy út, everything is prepared from top-quality ingredients, making sure that guests are offered the best ice-cream varieties. Classic and special flavour combos are served by the gramme from traditional metal containers, and you can enjoy them with amazing Belgian chocolate sauce and wafers, too.

MAMO Gelato

Photo: László Balkányi / We Love Budapest

Besides Nándori Confectionery, focal Ráday utca also has an Italian-style, new-wave ice cream shop, Mamo Gelato. It offers countless variations and new flavours every day. They are best at creating special combinations, with fruity and milky-creamy types. Even better, you can ask for your scoops in a brioche, just like in Italy – and you don’t want to miss the pistachio.

Gelateria Pomo D'oro

Photo: Zsuzsi Forgács / We Love Budapest

Via Italia’s Gelateria Pomo D’oro has always been among the top ice-cream shops in Budapest. They don’t have a lot of varieties, but they have perfected the flavours, and offer a fixed selection with one or two weekly specials. You can ask for two different types within one portion, available for sampling. Enjoy authentic Italian ice cream on their terrace, open until 9 pm every day.

Sütizz

Photo: Sütizz

Őrmező in Budapest’s District XI has been improved no end by the arrival of the Sütizz confectionery. Owners Eszter Gerő and József Juhos swear by high-quality ingredients and French tradition as far as desserts and ice cream are concerned. They like to experiment with exciting flavours but also offer classics, and you can enjoy their delicious cakes in ice-cream versions, as well. They also have sugar-free options. Service is attentive, and you can tuck into your frosty treat in their lovely garden.

Tip: pistachio, punch, J40

Prices: 300 forints/measure

1112 Budapest, csárda utca 1.

Tue-Fri noon-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm

Málna the pastry shop

Photo: Gábor Szabó / Gábor Szabó

Zoltán Kolonics, former head pastry chef at Gerbeaud, has opened his own shop, Málna, so now you can enjoy amazing sweet delicacies with an attentive service in Óbuda. Málna offers beautifully made, delicious cakes, and ice cream that you can ask in a paper cup or a cone. They mainly serve classic flavours of the highest quality. Try their frosty creations with a dollop of perfect whipped cream on top.